I became a morning person early in my childhood. In middle school, I started showering in the mornings. By high school, I woke at 5:30 am to walk our very impatient family dog. When I was a US Senate press intern in college, I got up at 4:45 am to start assembling news clips. 

This summer, I drove an hour and twenty minutes each day to the US District Court in Concord, New Hampshire for my judicial internship. My wake-up actually was more humane than my prior gigs: 6:00 am and complete with a shower and full breakfast. 

Some of us are going to have longer treks than others to school, and many of us are readjusting our schedules for the semester. With the start of the new academic year upon us, I thought I would share my tips for becoming a morning person.

Tip 1: Start with routine

I break my morning into two halves: the time at home, and the time in transit. At home, the emphasis is routine. The night prior, I make the morning as easy as possible. I prepare lunch so I can throw my Tupperware with cooling packs into my lunchbox in the morning. I plan breakfast so I can warm it in my toaster oven. Pre-cutting the fruit, having ice for my iced coffee, packing my briefcase and charging my laptop. The only morning chaos I permit is my clothing choices. Let’s face it, the weather changes on a dime here in fall. But I can stumble in my closet because everything else is ready to go. My alarm is the same every single day, no snoozing. 

Tip 2: EAT. Sit down and eat.

I did this during college, my paralegal days and during my internship. Sit down and eat breakfast. Take in the morning. You will feel more relaxed, comfortable and ready for the day versus shoving the banana in your bag and maybe getting two bites in on the T. This is the part where I tell you that the early wakeup is your friend, not the enemy. If you make time for something, use it and you will feel rewarded for it. I notice my body stays fueled longer if I make time for breakfast rather than cramming. 

Tip 3: Soften the morning

When I sit for breakfast, I take it slow and quiet. There are no podcasts or music until the commute. I focus on my surroundings. Mornings are often branded as chaotic or annoying. Softening them dispels that. I love hearing the chickadees sing outside my apartment. When I woke up for my old press job, I would watch the sky shift from navy to a warm blue as the sun rose. I would watch the cars on the main road near my senior dorm as the rest of the world joined me. It is a variant of “grounding,” which is often used to self-soothe in moments of high stress. Naming things you can see, hear, touch, smell, and feel all help your body and mind center itself in the moment. 

Tip 4: On the commute, variety is key

Now to the other half of the morning, this is where I trade routine for variety. I keep three different audiobooks ready for whatever I am in the mood for. Some days I want science fiction. Some mornings I am ready to hear the daily news. Other days I just want my cozy romance novel or let the radio take the wheel. Listening to my books or my playlists during the drive wakes me up and gets me in a good mood. My drive to Concord became quite familiar, and the variation in my podcasts and music and books kept it interesting at 7:00 am. 

Tip 5: Commit

The real problem people run into—with this or any lifestyle change—is they look for the shortcuts and quick fixes. Any meaningful change requires compromise and, consequently, sacrifice. I strictly enforce my 10:00 pm curfew on weeknights, especially if I am out dancing. When the alarm goes off at 6:25 am, there is no second, third, fourth, or 12th alarm. I already boiled the routine down as much as I can. Not every tip I have here will work for everyone, but if you adjust, make small adjustments. If you want to squeeze in more sleep, buy yourself 10 minutes at first, not half an hour. Maybe your way of taking the morning slow is with yoga or exercise. The emphasis should be on making the morning easier, not harder. 

The morning can be the best part of the day. I had this blog idea during my morning shower. I enjoy my iced coffee instead of chugging it in the car and risking a spill. I smell the early fall chill in the air before it dissipates with the noontime heat. I encourage everyone, especially the 1Ls, to give the morning a chance this semester!

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Catherine Beveridge is a second-year student at BC Law. Contact her at beverid@bc.edu.